Water-skimming sport ball for use in competitive water play

ABSTRACT

A water-skimming ball for use in competitive water play wherein the ball is a specified composition and partially filled with fluids, not only to induce a skimming action of the ball across the surface of water for long distances when properly thrown relative to the surface of the water, but also to produce certain other desirable dynamics particularly suited to competitive water play.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of prior applicationSer. No. 09/369,251 filed Aug. 6, 1999 which is a continuation-in-partapplication of Ser. No. 09/272,173 filed Mar. 18, 1999 which is relatedto provisional patent application of the U.S. Ser. No. 60/082,292 filedApr. 20, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to game apparatus. Morespecifically, the invention relates to a water-skimming ball for use incompetitive water play wherein the ball is a specified composition andpartially filled with fluids, not only to induce a skimming action ofthe ball across the surface of water for distances of up to and inexcess of seventy-five (75′) feet when properly thrown relative to thesurface of the water, but also to produce certain otherhereinafter-described desirable dynamics particularly suited tocompetitive water play.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Generally as to all kinds of balls. Game balls, play balls andsports balls come in various sizes, weights, textures, compositions andthe like. Historically, most balls are specifically designed for use onland or on hard surface play areas such as courts, alleys, table tops,and the like. In many sports, the development of the ball is an ongoingprocess with newer designs and better materials being brought togetherin novel combinations in order to obtain a desired effect or betterperformance when in use.

[0006] Innovations in game balls and play balls have been known whichenable the balls to act in a predetermined manner. Internal bladders,covers and valves in balls such as footballs, basketballs, soccer ballsand tennis balls have continuously been modified to achieve better playcharacteristics, increased player control, more predictable responseduring course of play and to achieve more economical and reliable balls.

[0007] It also has been known in the art to modify the motioncharacteristics of balls by utilizing interior weighting devices ormaterials to affect a ball's performance. For instance, it is known toplace weights, particles, liquids and other materials within theinterior of balls to vary their motion characteristics when projectedalong a hard surface.

[0008] By way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,098 to Aiello, a sportball for roller or street hockey is disclosed wherein the ball,approximately 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) in diameter, is designed to take theplace of a hockey puck for use on a hard surface. The ball is designedto contain approximately 10% to 25% liquid, such as water, to inhibitthe ball from bouncing when hit with a hockey stick during play.Thereafter, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,906 to Gentile, a sport ball forplaying street hockey is disclosed wherein the liquid used to create thehockey puck is antifreeze instead of water.

[0009] Generally as to balls used in water play. With few exceptions,almost all known balls have been designed for use in land-based gamessuch as the ball described in the aforementioned patent to Aiello. Therehave been relatively few balls developed which are particularly designedor adapted for use in an aquatic environment such as in a swimming pool,in a lake or along the sea shore.

[0010] Many people are familiar with conventional beach balls that arefrequently used in an aquatic environment but are generally used in playor thrown while on land. There have been games developed for water playwhich are based upon games played on land, such as water polo and waterbasketball. These games utilize hollow balls having essentially the samecharacteristics as their equivalent land based balls. But, there is noparticular cooperation required between the balls and the water otherthan the fact that the balls should float. Other than some skipping ofthe balls used in those games, the throwing of such balls in those gamesis more often than not accompanied by the splat of the ball hitting uponand stopping in the water after being thrown through the air. The ballsdo not easily move across or on the surface of the water upon contactwith the water and are not classified as water-skimming balls, ashereinafter discussed.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,822 to Sabourin, discloses a soccer type gameto be played in a swimming pool. That patent discloses use of a ballcompletely filled with water so as to have a density sufficient for theball to remain on the bottom of a swimming pool during game play.

[0012] The only known prior art as to a ball that skims the surface ofwater with little to no bounce consists of the following twowater-skimming play balls: a) an unpatented but commercially marketedand trademarked product called a Skidderball™; and b) the water-skimmingplay ball of the provisional patent application and regular patentapplication which preceded this continuation-in-part.

[0013] The Skidderball™ and the play ball of the provisional and regularapplications that preceded this continuation-in-part properly each maybe classified, as will be shown below, as a play ball as opposed to agame ball or sport ball designed for use in competitive water play.

[0014] The Skidderball™ is self-described as an “action water ball” withthe meaning being that it can be made to skid or skim across the surfaceof water. It is described by its manufacturer as 9″ in diameter and isto be infused with water as instructed by the manufacturer. It may bemade to skid, slide or skim across the water for distances up to about15 feet. But, it will not skid more than about 15′ no matter how muchforce is applied in propelling it. The same is true of the play balldiscovered by the inventor's son and as disclosed in the aforementionedapplications, which ball has a diameter of 8⅝″ and contains a similarmix of water and air to that of the Skidderball™. Each play ball islight in comparison with the ball of the present invention, with thepoint being that both are in the same category of being too light to bepropelled very far. The overstated analogy would be that one cannotthrow a feather very far in part simply because of how light it is.

[0015] Both the Skidderball™ and the play ball properly are calledaction water balls or water-skimming balls, but the degree of theiraction in the water is limited as described. As shown in more detailherein, both are suited for casual water play rather than competitivewater play for additional reasons than just their inability to skim veryfar.

[0016] Even when thrown with considerable force, not only is there aserious limit on their water-skimming movement, but also there is anotable absence of any other kind of unexpected, novel or eye-catchingdynamics of a water-skimming play ball. That is so whether the play ballis propelled across the surface of open water or is thrown at an angleagainst a wall of a swimming pool.

[0017] In water play with such a play ball there is no visiblesuggestion or evident disclosure of any particular dynamics that wouldserve to encourage refinement of the art, specifically as to how adifferent water-skimming ball might act in open water or upon beingpropelled against a wall of a swimming pool. Simply stated, withhindsight it now can be said that this likely is because of the relativelightness of the play ball and lack of force generally applied inpropelling it what short distance it is able to travel in skimming thewater.

[0018] Because of its limitations, a water skimming play ball is notsuitable for serving as the centerpiece for any fast-paced competitivegame or sport played in the water. Such a play ball not only cannottravel very far on the surface of the water, but also because it is toolight in weight, cannot be propelled very far in the air either,relative to typical balls used in playing water polo and waterbasketball. Further, such a play ball gives no hint of the discoveriesthat were yet to be made by the inventor of the ball of the presentinvention, which have become a part of and incorporated into therefinement of the art to produce a water-skimming sport ballspecifically for use in competitive water play, with novel and uniquedynamics that go beyond being able to skim much greater distances.

[0019] Even though water inhibits quick human movement from one locationto another in the water, as noted there nevertheless are team watersports that are played in the water, with a ball as the main piece ofgame equipment. As noted, water polo is one of those games, which is anOlympic sport. Another is water basketball.

[0020] These team water sports utilize the provided ball, as expected,by having the participants throw the ball within an area of play andinto goals. But, there is nothing special about such balls or in howthey behave in competitive water play.

[0021] While the ball often is intentionally skipped across the water inwater polo, the provided ball does not have any ability to skim thewater. Further, there most certainly is not a rule in water polo topreclude lobbing the ball over the head of an opponent. Indeed, this isdone over and over and over.

[0022] In games or a sport designed to take full advantage of thewater-skimming ability of the ball of the present invention, however, itis almost fundamental that the ball must be skimmed across the watersurface. In fact, it is the novel dynamics of the sport ball of thepresent invention that makes games and a sport played with the sportball in themselves novel and unique.

[0023] No water polo game has ever been played with a water-skimmingball that can do and does what the ball of the present invention can doand does in competitive play. If the ball of the present invention wereto be suggested for use, and used, as the principal piece of gameapparatus for playing water polo, then the strategies of the game wouldchange dramatically. Water polo would no longer be the same game.

[0024] For example, players would gravitate more toward the side wallsto receive passes from team mates. This would take advantage of thenovel wall-hugging characteristic that the sport ball of the presentinvention optimizes by design. Players also would learn that it isbetter to skim the ball than to lob it, because their developable skillsinclude skimming the ball precisely to the spot where they want to placeit. This is the result of the novel and unique ducking motion of thesport ball of the present invention at the end of every run or skimmingof the ball across the water.

[0025] The inventor enhanced that dynamic by design.

[0026] More significantly, new and novel games using the sport ball ofthe present invention most certainly will take advantage of the uniqueand novel characteristics of the sport ball. For example, consider againthe dynamic of how the sport ball hugs the side wall of a pool whenthrown against the wall at an angle of 45 degrees or less. In therelated Continuation-In-Part application U.S. Ser. No. 09/369,251 filedAug. 6, 1999, the sport therein described uniquely provides for fourcorner goals. This facilitates the use of the walls in zipping a shotpast a goalie and into an opponent's goal. This is just as significantas how that dynamic enables a player to more easily place the ball inthe hands of a team mate who positions himself or herself near a sidewall.

[0027] The unique ability of the sport ball of the present invention toskim the surface of water for long distances, in addition to its otherdynamic and novel characteristics, cry out for the development of newand unique water games that focus on the significance of suchcharacteristics. New games, with new rules, can utilize these uniquecharacteristics and dynamics of the ball of the present invention. Thatis why the inventor has a companion application regarding a new sportplayed with the sport ball of the present invention. The mostfundamental rule of that new sport, which uses the sport ball of thepresent invention as its principle piece of game apparatus, is that theball cannot be thrown with any upward trajectory. It must be skimmedwith a throw that is parallel to or downward relative to the surface ofthe water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The present invention is directed to a ball specificallystructured for competitive use in an aquatic environment.

[0029] The inventor set out to refine the prior art related to awater-skimming play ball, not knowing where that might lead or what sucheffort might produce. The inventor set out to produce a sport ball thatnot only can skim the surface of water a significant distance, but alsocan satisfy other objectives for a ball suitable for highly competitiveplay in or on the water.

[0030] The result of that effort is the ball of the present invention.

[0031] This sport ball or game ball for competitive water play, is not aplay ball for casual play. For starters, the ball of the presentinvention is structured and designed to zip across the water more thanseventy-five (75′) feet when properly thrown.

[0032] It also is structured and designed to optimally advance certainnovel characteristics discovered in the course of developing its abilityto skim long distances. These novel characteristics, discussed below,are enhanced by the ball's particular combination of diameter, mass andbalance of fluids, all in anticipation of use of the ball in competitiveplay. As will be seen, the resulting dynamics achieved by the ball ofthe present invention show that it is likely to become the centerpieceor principal piece of game apparatus for playing new and unique watersports that use such a water-skimming ball.

[0033] Because of the particular relative amounts of the liquids(preferably water and air) to the mass and diameter of the ball of thepresent invention, the ball possesses the unique combination of featuresthat produce the following discovered and enhanced dynamics that arehighly desirable in the playing of competitive games in the water.

[0034] These dynamics are:

[0035] (1) first, as discussed, the impressive distance (in excess of75′) that the sport ball will skim the water surface when thrown withsufficient force to drive it that far across the water surface;

[0036] (2) second, the enhanced ducking movement that the sport ballwill make at the end of each run or throw across the water surface,which facilitates the development of player skills in throwing andplacing the sport ball at precisely the spot or distance that thethrower wishes during competitive play; and

[0037] (3) third, wall-hugging characteristic that the sport ballevidences when skimmed with force against the wall of a swimming pool atan angle of approximately 45% or less to the wall.

[0038] In the Skidderball™ and other such play balls, the first of thesedynamics is impossible to achieve. In fact, one cannot skim aSkidderball™ even a third of the distance that may be achieved with aball of the present invention.

[0039] As to the other two featured dynamics of the ball of the presentinvention, their existence is imperceptible in a Skidderball™, even whenone looks for such dynamics and knows what he or she is trying toobserve. The inventor discovered the latter two dynamics only afterexperimenting with and successfully designing a ball that achieved askimming ability for a much greater distance than that of the prior art.Then, once perceived, those dynamic characteristics also were fosteredand enhanced.

[0040] Additionally and not incidentally, the sport ball of the presentinvention by intentional design also is structured to accomplish otherobjectives related to its desirability for use as a competitive gameball. These are:

[0041] (1) the sport ball comfortably fits in the human hand, whichfacilitates each player's abilities both to catch it with one hand andto throw it with either hand;

[0042] (2) the total weight of the ball (about 410 grams) allows theabove-stated dynamics to be optimally achieved without being so heavy asto tire a player too easily from his or her throwing of the ball overand over in competitive play.

[0043] This continuation-in-part constitutes a disclosure of how tobuild the sport ball of the present invention, which zips across thesurface of water for distances from 10 feet to distances exceedingseventy-five (75′) feet, which additionally acts in the above-mentionednew, exciting and unexpected ways in competitive water play and, lastly,also meets players' preferences for a ball that feels good and has aproper total weight.

[0044] The preferred embodiment of the ball of the present invention isa sport ball that is approximately 6½″ in diameter when inflated, madeof an impervious material weighing approximately 110 grams in itsuninflated shell form, that is inflated or infused with a combination offluids, preferably air and water. When water and air are used, thevolume of water by weight that is infused into the ball is approximately300 grams (or 300 cubic centimeters), for a total weight ofapproximately 410 grams when the balance of the cavity of the ball isfilled with air.

[0045] The ball of the present invention does not embrace any balls ofless than six inches in diameter or more than approximately seven andone-half inches in diameter. As the diameter becomes smaller, the ballbecomes more and more like a missile than a game ball, and increasinglybecomes more difficult to skim for the shorter distances of its range.

[0046] The ball of the present invention constitutes the “gameapparatus” that enables its users to speed-up the playing of competitivewater games with a water-skimming ball created specifically forcompetitive water play, particularly for team water sports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0047] A better understanding of the invention will be had withreference to the drawing. FIG. 1 shows a ball of the present inventionin cross section and an indication of the required trajectory of theball to establish a skimming or sliding motion of the ball as it ispropelled by an individual across a surface of water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0048] With particular reference to FIG. 1, a ball 10 of the presentinvention will be described in detail. The ball is shown in FIG. 1 as ithas been propelled by an individual throwing the ball such that it movesgenerally across the surface 12 of a body of water in a skimming orsliding motion. As will be discussed below, the proper propelling motionis important to develop the skimming motion of the ball relative to thewater surface.

[0049] The ball is generally spherical in configuration having aninterior volume or cavity 13 which is filled with two fluids havingdifferent specific gravities. One fluid is a gas and the other a liquid.The gas is preferably air and fills a major portion of the cavity 13 asindicated by the number 20. The liquid 18 is preferably a free flowingliquid, such as water, which is not restrained within the cavity 13. Itis contemplated that other liquids, semi-liquids and flowable gels canalso be used. As the ball skims across the surface, the liquid thereinwill move rearwardly, as is shown in the cross section of FIG. 1, withthe motion of the liquid being indicated by the arrows 22.

[0050] The ball is preferably formed of a natural or synthetic rubber orplastic material having resilient side walls 16. The ball is preferablyformed having a diameter “D” which is approximately 6.25 inches to 7.25inches for competitive play. The ball may be grasped and propelled witheither hand.

[0051] Although not shown in the drawing, an appropriate valve may beprovided for introducing the fluids, such as air and water, into theinterior cavity 13. The valve may or may not be one that facilitatesre-inflating the ball. In some embodiments, the ball may be manufacturedand supplied to users with the fluids sealed within the cavity 13. Theside walls are thus formed so as to be fluid impervious. Other than asnaturally occurs through osmosis, the internal pressure and internalweight of the contents remain as consistent as possible throughout thelife of the ball.

[0052] The pressure of the fluid such as gas within the cavity may varydepending upon the overall size and weight characteristics of theparticular embodiment of the ball. It is important, however, that thewalls of the ball be pliable such that an individual may grasp the ballbut such that the walls thereof are not easily deformed without exertinga conscious amount of finger pressure.

[0053] For each embodiment of the invention, the amount of free flowingfluids required to achieve the optimum or near-optimum skimming effectvaries as to the percentages of the total inside volume for eachparticular embodiment. The physical characteristics of the ball includevariable parameters such as size, weight, mass, volume and texture.However, it is preferred that the ball be of such size that ismanageable in human hands, of a weight that is not too heavy to throweasily and not too light to preclude it from traveling some enjoyabledistance, of a mass that compliments its skimming ability for the sizeand weight chosen, of a volume that also compliments the parameters ofsize, weight and mass, and of a texture and hardness/softness thatenables an individual to easily grasp it without such texture andhardness/softness detracting from the ability of the ball to skim thewater when properly propelled.

[0054] The amount and combination of fluids, such as liquid and gas, mayalso vary in order to optimize the skimming or sliding capability of theball when propelled relative to the surface of the water. In thepreferred embodiments, sufficient liquid, such as water, is providedwithin the cavity of the ball to provide weight to maximize the skimmingability of the ball and such that the ball does not have a tendency toskip relative to the water surface when propelled at a low angle ofincidence relative to the surface of the water, i.e. an angleapproaching a generally parallel relationship with respect to thesurface of the water as shown by the arrow 14 in FIG. 1.

[0055] One of the unique effects developed by the ball of the presentinvention is the reaction of the ball to impact with a side wall of aswimming pool. In this respect, when the ball 10 is propelled at anangle of approximately 45 degrees or less with respect to a side wall,the ball will tend to track or follow the side wall as it movesfollowing impact. One would normally expect that a ball engaging a sidewall would tend to bounce at an angle outwardly relative to the sidewall and back within the area of the pool, like a billiard ball off theside wall of a billiards table. However, because of the dynamics of theliquid in the ball, the ball does not bounce from the side wall. Themotion of the liquid will change direction upon impact such that theliquid tends to move forward and toward the side wall thus propellingthe ball along the side wall. This unexpected motion may be and isutilized by players as a tactical procedure in a competitive game usingthe ball of the present invention.

[0056] If too much liquid is utilized within the cavity of the ball ofthe present invention, the ball will have a tendency to sit down or sinkcausing increased friction or drag relative to the surface of the waterwhich will reduce the skimming or sliding effect of the ball. Further,if too little liquid is utilized within the ball, the ball will alsolose its optimum skimming or sliding effect and will tend to skiprelative to the surface of the water or to stop movement. There must bea sufficient mass to create a driving force inwardly of the ball toproduce the necessary skimming effect. Thus there must be sufficientliquid within the cavity to provide enough mass to retain the ball incontact with the water surface, but not so much as to create increaseddrag of the ball across the surface of the water.

[0057] The preferred embodiment of the ball of the present invention isa game ball 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in diameter formed of a waterimpervious plasticol weighing approximately 3.875 ounces (110 grams).The ball is filled with air and water to a weight of approximately14.125 ounces (410 grams), such that the amount of water included withinthe cavity is approximately 10.25 ounces (300 grams). The water volumeof this ball occupies approximately 14% of the volume of the interiorcavity. When properly propelled, this ball successfully achieves thedesigned objective of traversing the entire width of a 75′ wide Olympicsize swimming pool (or length of a so-called Junior Olympic size pool).

[0058] Another embodiment is a game ball constructed from a rubbermaterial having an outer diameter of approximately 7.5 inches (19 cm)and a wall thickness of 0.4 inches. The ball when filled withapproximately 29 ounces (820 grams) of water, constituting approximately23% of the inside volume of the ball, will skim long distances quiteeffectively. This embodiment, however, takes considerable force topropel it the longer distances. Because it is heavier, it also tends totire the user more quickly than the preferred embodiment.

[0059] There are a number of different embodiments of the presentinvention within the ranges of the parameters indicated herein, each ofwhich may achieve a water-skimming effect when properly propelled. Anyball in excess of 7.5 inches is not embraced here. Such size becomesless desirable in terms of a player's ability to grasp it and throw itwith one hand, and it becomes rather heavy and tiring to use. Similarly,any ball less than 6.25 inches in diameter is not embraced here, forreasons indicated earlier.

[0060] As previously discussed, in order to obtain the maximum skimmingeffect in propelling balls of the present invention, the balls should bethrown at a low angle of incidence relative to the surface of the water.Such angles should be as close as possible to parallel with the surfaceof the water so that the balls will slide or skim along the surface withlittle to no bounce. Skipping of a ball may be accomplished byincreasing the angle of incidence and propelling the ball with enoughforce to cause it to bounce off the surface. As observed, this is auseful technique for avoiding an opponent who is trying to block a passor shot on goal.

[0061] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments have beenpresented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limitthe invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. It is intendedthat the scope of the invention be defined by all embodimentsencompassed within the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A sport ball for use in competitive water play wherein the ball skims across the surface of the water with little tendency to bounce relative to the water surface, the ball comprising: a hollow sphere of fluid impervious material being between 6.25 inches and 7.5 inches in diameter and defining an interior cavity, first and second fluids provided within said cavity and being freely moveable therein, each of said fluids having a different specific gravity, and said fluids being present in an amount by ratio such that the ball, when propelled at a low angle of incidence relative to a surface of water, will skim the surface for distances up to and in excess of seventy-five (75′) feet, and will tend to hug or travel along a wall of a swimming pool if propelled against such wall at an angle of 45% or less to the wall.
 2. The ball of claim 1 wherein a first of said fluids is a gas and a second of said fluids is a freely flowing liquid.
 3. The ball of claim 2 wherein the gas is air and the freely flowing fluid is water.
 4. The ball of claim 2 wherein the weight of the ball without fluids is approximately 3.875 ounces (110 grams) and when a free flowing liquid is added of approximately 10.25 ounces (300 grams), the total weight after inflation of the remainder of the cavity with a gas is approximately 14.25 ounces (410 grams), and the diameter of the ball is between approximately 6.25 inches and approximately 6.75 inches.
 5. The ball of claim 4 wherein the diameter is 6.5 inches.
 6. The ball of claim 2 wherein the ball has a diameter of approximately 7.5 inches (19 cm), a wall thickness of approximately 0.40 inches and when a free flowing liquid is added of approximately 29 ounces (820 grams), constituting approximately 23% of a volume defined by said cavity. 